skip to main content
skip to newscasts

Thursday, September 19, 2024

Public News Service Logo
facebook instagram linkedin reddit youtube twitter
view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

Post-presidential debate poll shows a shift in WI; Teamsters won't endorse in presidential race after releasing internal polling showing most members support Trump; IL energy jobs growth is strong but lacks female workers; Pregnant, Black Coloradans twice as likely to die than the overall population.

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

The Teamsters choose not to endorse a presidential candidate, county officials in Texas fight back against state moves to limit voter registration efforts, and the FBI investigate suspicious packages sent to elections offices in at least 17 states.

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

A USDA report shows a widening gap in rural versus urban health, a North Carolina county remains divided over a LGBTQ library display, and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz' policies are spotlighted after his elevation to the Democratic presidential ticket.

Do We Have a “Plan Bee” to Protect Crops, Food Prices?

play audio
Play

Wednesday, April 16, 2008   

Columbus, OH – A mysterious problem with bee colonies that's creating a "buzz" around the country could cause problems with crops, gardens and, ultimately, result in higher food prices in Ohio.

Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) has caused a drop in wild and domestic honeybee populations around the country. Its cause is yet to be found. In the meantime, conservation biologist Gabriela Chavarria of the Natural Resources Defense Council says, bees are needed to pollinate a number of food crops, in Ohio and around the country.

"We're not going to have the 'right' pollinators to help us to pollinate the crops or our plants in our gardens. If you like fruits and vegetables, you definitely will be affected if you're in Ohio--because the bees from Ohio come from outside the state. Ohio doesn't have a lot of beekeepers."

Farmers can't wait for answers about CCD. Some already are pollinating crops by hand, which is an expensive and labor-intensive process. The colony collapses also have prompted some beekeepers to leave the business altogether, contributing to the bee shortage.

Chavarria believes Congressional action is needed, both to approve subsidies for beekeepers affected by the problem and to fund research into its causes. Congress considered such legislation last fall, but did not act upon it.



get more stories like this via email

more stories
Recipients of the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Grant can now access funding to drive financing for thousands of climate-focused and clean energy initiatives. (bilanol/Adobe Stock)

Environment

play sound

Michigan's most vulnerable communities are receiving federal funding to fight the devastating effects of climate change. It's part of the $27 billion …


Health and Wellness

play sound

September is Health Literacy Month, and a Denver-based group is working to help health professionals break a persistent pattern of discrimination …

Social Issues

play sound

An Alabama woman is on a mission to help people who've been incarcerated for decades successfully transition back into society. The mission to …


Medicaid has covered more than $28.6 million in claims for dental services since expansion began, according to state data. (DC Studio/Adobe Stock)

Health and Wellness

play sound

In North Carolina, the gap between Medicaid reimbursement rates and the actual cost of dental care has reached a crisis point, impacting both …

Social Issues

play sound

September is Hunger Action Month. In North Dakota, it isn't just food banks trying to help underserved populations get nutritious items. Health …

A 2023 report by Oceana and Turtle Island Restoration Network found that more than half of the animals caught in gillnets are thrown overboard as waste. (Oceana and Blancpain)

Environment

play sound

Marine biologists conducting deep dives near five California islands are collecting data they hope will strengthen the case for ending gillnet fishing…

Environment

play sound

Researchers at Iowa State University are taking aim at the huge amount of energy used by data centers, now and in the future. They have developed a …

Environment

play sound

Rising demands for clean energy efficiency are producing a wealth of work opportunities in Illinois. These in-demand jobs are also promoting a …

 

Phone: 303.448.9105 Toll Free: 888.891.9416 Fax: 208.247.1830 Your trusted member- and audience-supported news source since 1996 Copyright © 2021